Mitchell Best
Manassas, Virginia 20111
703-***-**** (C)
adh5nt@r.postjobfree.com
Summary: Mr. Best is an experienced Configuration Manager with over 28 years of practice. He serves as a Subject Matter Expert and provides tailor made analytical solutions to each project he encounters. He has worked in Agile, Waterfall, Iterative, ITIL and CMMI environments. He has used such tools as CVS, SVN, Git, Maven, WebLogic, WebSphere, etc., to provide solutions. His team player personality allows him to interact well with his peers and implement processes in a smooth manner. He has worked in the healthcare environment as a member of the TRICARE PMO with HIPPA certifications as a member of the Defense Health Information Management System team. He is also a skilled trainer.
Security Clearance
Top Secret
Work Experience
Release Manager/Project Manager
05/20 – Present – Department of State, Arlington, VA
Trigent
The Release Manager will interface and communicate with the Application Support Branch, Network Operations Management Branch, and ISSO as deemed necessary. The Release Manager will own the Release Management lifecycle, which includes scheduling, coordinating and the management of releases across the Overseas Buildings and Operations, Information Resource Management (OBO/IRM) Division for multiple applications across various portfolios. The releases can be inclusive of application updates, operating system patches, security improvements, hardware upgrades, Projects, and Programs.
Leads the effort of defining the IT strategic direction for release management tools for IT to ensure the process requirements of release management are built in.
Work with IT management to improve the software engineering processes and practices associated with continuously building, deploying, and updating software and environments.
Work collaboratively with all participants in software development projects and is supportive of developers and testers as they set up their build dev/test environments.
Responsible for implementing and managing release processes for code through development, test, and production environments.
Provide tools and services to help product management and project teams manage and deploy releases into production
Negotiate, plan, and manage all release activities.
Continually work towards making improvements in the release process.
Communicate release details and schedules to the Business, as required.
Participate in CCB meetings to discuss release scope and/or roadblocks.
Research new software development and configuration management methodologies and technologies and analyzes their application to current configuration management needs.
Forward plan the release windows and cycles across a portfolio.
Manage risks and resolve issues that affect release scope, schedule, and quality.
Measure and monitor progress to ensure application releases are delivered on time and within budget and meet or exceed expectations.
Coordinate release content and effort based on the service request backlog, pending service requests, third party applications, or operating system updates.
Communicate all key project plans, commitments, and changes including requirements, QA plans, schedule, and scope changes.
Manage software code repository and coordinate work between different teams across OBO/IRM.
Conduct Release Readiness reviews, Milestone Reviews, and Business Go/No-Go reviews.
Maintain the release schedule for all core services and ensure alignment across key stakeholders in OBO.
Lead and coordinate the Go-Live activities including the execution of the deployment plans and checklists.
Responsible for the IT Release Calendar, Weekly Release Reporting, and Release repository - Build and release procedures, dependencies, and notification lists.
Produce Deployment, Run Books and Implementation Plans.
Accountable for scripts and automation tools used to build, integrate, and deploy software releases to various platforms.
Change Manager
07/18 08/08/19 Department of Labor, Washington, DC
Develop, document, and maintain baseline configurations for OCIOs enterprise IT infrastructure to include: hardware, software, and firmware throughout the SDLC. The baselines must include:
oRevision number
oList of hardware, software, and firmware components
oUpdated patch information when applicable
Document Logical placement within the systems architecture
Ensure configuration management processes of OCIO enterprise IT infrastructure is consistent with the DOL Enterprise Architecture and Federal Enterprise Architecture.
Ensure the developed baseline configuration document is compliant with NIST approved configuration checklists.
Ensure Quality Assurance and Security Assessments are implemented within OCIO Change Requests.
Monitor the network to determine what software programs are running on the network against an approved list.
Review and update when a change occurs as part of information system component installations the OCIO baseline configuration document(s).
Update annually or when necessary, baseline configuration documents under version control to maintain baseline integrity and support rollback activities (when required).
Review configuration management procedures and validate compliance with DOL’s configuration management policies and procedures. Prepare and submit compliance report to the Federal Manager quarterly
Manage configuration planning, change control, status accounting, and audits.
Assist OCIO in determining the types of changes to the agency’s systems that should be under configuration control.
Test, validate, and document changes to OCIO’s enterprise IT infrastructure IAW DOL/OCIO policies before implementing the changes on production systems.
Apply OCIO Change Management procedures for changes to systems source code and related SDLC documentation per OCIO policies and guidance.
Participate in OIG audits regarding OCIO processes, policies, requirements, status and findings
Track, manage, and update Configuration Change Requests.
Ensure Promotion Deployments are executed on schedule
Develop, document, and maintain system inventories, to include, but not limited to:
oManufacture
oModel number
oSerial number
oSoftware license number
oVersion numbers
oSystem/component owner
Schedule and conduct asset inventories per IAW OCIO Policies
Participated in implementing SerrviceNow which is based on ITIL framework
Test ServiceNow Implementation using Test Cases
Participate in the CMDB Rollout through Discovery
Submit Change Requests for the update of the new ServiceNow Rollout
Participate 3 times weekly with the ServiceNow Implementer in meetings
Participate in Requirements Gathering for the ServiceNow Implementers
Provide the results of the Asset Inventory Report to the Federal Manager
Operated in Waterfall, Agile, ITIL, ITSM
Configuration Manager -
12/2015 – 05/18 Census Bureau– Suitland, MD
Serve as SME to implement and maintain the change and software release management process
Assist Branch Team Members and User Community with software release management
Perform system maintenance and administrative support for Version Manager and Serena Dimensions Business Manager
Create and maintain documentation for CM processes and tool administration
Maintain and enforce CM policies and procedures
Provide support to configuration management planning
Process and monitor change requests
Perform quality assurance/control checks on the change process to ensure only approved validated changes are baselined and/or deployed
Perform quality checks on software development lifecycle (SDLC) documentation to ensure guidelines were followed in developing or updating documentation
Provide recommendations for ongoing process improvement of CM process, procedures, and related documentation
Configuration Manager
01/2014 – 04/2014 HCL America, – Cary, NC
(Contractor with VUI)
Administer Subversion – India/Colorado/Local
Develop and implement Branching Methodology for project
Modify and write build scripts in Ant
Implement Jenkins
Perform audits and insure compliance / participate with QA
Perform Builds – Java based client using Maven – Development/QA/Production Baselines
Serve as Release Manager
Debug/Fix Build Errors
Full SDLC support
Produce Release Documentation
Write Configuration Management Plan
Write Program Build Plan
Platforms – Linux and Windows - .NET environment
Iterative Development Lifecycle
Implement process improvement
Install and implement automated build – Maven Scripting, Jenkins
Monitor / audit release baselines
Interact with upper level management
Utilize BMC Remedy Action Request System for trouble ticket tracking and resolution
Produce documents
Recommend process to standardize documentation
Responsible for Continuous Integration
Serve as release manager
Serve as build manager
Serve as configuration manager
Used Artifactory to perform builds
Iterative Lifecycle Development
CM Tool:
Subversion
Senior Configuration Analyst
10/2012 – 03/2013 Vangent, – Falls Church, VA
VA Client – Veterans Handbook Development
Agile Project – Participate in Daily Scrum Calls
Administer Subversion
Modify and write build scripts in Ant
Perform Builds – Java based client using Maven
Debug/Fix Build Errors
Full SDLC support
Serve as Release Manager
Produce Release Documentation
Write Configuration Management Plan
Platforms – Linux and Windows – Java/J2EE
Agile Environment – Participate Daily in Scrum Calls
Interface with VA Client
Document unwritten processes
Utilize BMC Remedy Action Request System for trouble ticket tracking and resolution
Implement process improvement
Provide Build and Installation Instructions to the VA Client
Monitor / Audit release baselines
Interact with management
Produce documents
Recommend processes to standardize documentation
Responsible for Continuous Integration/Build and Release Automation – Maven Scripting and Jenkins
Develop/Administer Branching Methodology
Serve as release manager/build manager/configuration manager
Debug compilation and installation errors
Agile Development
CM Tool:
Subversion
Principle Configuration Analyst/Project Manager
12/2008 – 09/2012 GDIT, DHIMS/TRICARE – Falls Church, VA
Manage Agreement Asset Library
Configuration Manager for numerous government partners including serving as CM for DoD/VA
Attend major DoD/VA offsite meetings for the development of the Captain James A. Lovell FHCC project
Produce Project Metrics
Full SDLC support
Analyze Agreements from a program level
Facilitate Agreement Development and Completion – MOA, MOU, SLA, Transition Plans – with numerous government agencies
Establish Agreement Partners
Provide release management and control
Produce Release Documentation
Interface/Serve as Liaison with government clients – Major Government Entities/Agencies – Whitehouse, DMDC, OSG, Pentagon, VA, DoD, etc.
Interface with the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties and the Office of the General Council
Facilitate CCB/Triage for dispositioning of CRs for multiple baseline incorporation approvals
Serve as secretariat to CCB/Triage for government meetings
Document unwritten processes
Implement process improvement
Monitor / audit release baselines
Interact with management and act in PM Capacity
Produce documents
Recommend process to standardize documentation
Utilize Serena Business Mashups 2009 R2 (Build 298) to query and input change packages
CMMI Level III/ITIL Projects
Took online ITIL Training for certification
HIPPA Certified – PMO for TRICARE -
Defense Health Information Management Systems (DHIMS)
CM Tool:
Serena Dimensions
Configuration Manager
7/2008 – 10/2008 APEX Systems Inc., Naval Station Norfolk, VA
SPAWAR - Manage Aircraft Carrier Software Baseline Platforms
Serve as Release Manager for Aircraft Carrier Software Baselines
Audit Aircraft Carrier Baselines
Full SDLC Support
Produce Release Documents
Implement configuration control process on a new project
Establish and document procedures in a CMMI Level 3 Naval Project
Provide release management and control
Interface with government clients
Document unwritten processes
Implement process improvement
Update/write CM Plan to conform with project standards – Navy and CMMI Standards
Monitor / audit release baselines
Interact with management
Use BMC Remedy Action Request System for trouble ticket tracking and resolution
Produce documents
Release documentation to SharePoint site
Recommend process to standardize documentation
Platforms – Windows and Linux
CMMI Level III Project
Configuration Management Analyst
5/2007 – 7/2008 CLR, Arlington, VA - Pentagon
Work with a team of Ontologists using SOAP and HTML to provide CM Policies and procedures – a large team of PhD’s
Process security paperwork/establish and document procedure
Manage hardware/software procurement
Utilize BMC Remedy Action Request System for trouble ticket tracking and resolution across agencies
Recommend tools for to manage CIs for SOA Environment
Full SDLC CM Support
Establish and apply standard configuration management processes
Recommend tools or other requirements to support configuration management activities
Provide basic vocabulary configuration support and version control
Support document production and management
Support the Enterprise Vocabulary Team in file management and file plans, software asset management, data management, and publication management
Serve in a change control governance role and perform change management activities with the team and various DoD communities – CONUS – over 400 attend weekly CCBs I facilitated
Administer Panel meeting coordination and other support activities for the Enterprise Vocabulary Team
Conduct vocabulary analysis and normalization activities; developing vocabularies and converting them into formats that can be implemented in operating environments
Provide technical contribution to team as needed
Develop documentation and presentations for delivery to clients
Help resolve problems and ensure customer satisfaction
Provide new software tool impact analysis and suggestion for implementation along with cost estimate and proposed team solution to include Gap Analysis
Implement and follow process for software to be declared network worthy
Serve as release/configuration manager
Provide Gap analysis and recommendation of tools to provide CI Management and gain budget approval
Arrange Vendor Tool Demonstrations
Sharepoint Administrator
Establish Standard Naming Convention Policy across branches of the Military to advance the Warfighter Mission
Sr. Configuration Analyst
1/2007 - 5/2007 Tek Systems, Reston, Virginia
Perform builds and debug build errors - Java Based Environment using Ant Scripts and Maven
Provide training to in-house CM Staff
Update Configuration Management Plan for the project Update Plan and Implement Plans for Program
Provide reverse engineering and document forward engineering process for complex RAID configuration/methodology
Full SDLC CM Support – DoD/VA Project
Provide direction to senior staff regarding implementation of new tools
Update Document Templates
Utilized Weblogic and Websphere to perform builds
Audit Change Requests to ensure adherence to established policies
Audit documents to ensure adherence to established policies
Update and maintain CM Tool
Provide status accounting
Serve as secretary to ICCB - disposition CRs for baseline incorporation
Generate Agenda for ICCB and conduct ICCB
Train project personnel in new procedures
Maintain information system on intranet
Maintain Configuration Management Repository on Shared Drive
Platform for Clearcase and ClearQuest – Windows. Tasked with the migration of the tool to Linux environment
Serve as release/configuration and build manager
CM Tools:
Clearcase ClearQuest Remedy
Sr. Configuration Analyst
6/2006 - 12/2006 Apex Systems, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia - Pentagon
Provide training to CM Staff in-house Update Configuration Management Plan for the project
Train/Manage CM Direct Reports
Provide Full SDLC CM Support
Update Plan and Implement Plans for Program
Provide direction to senior staff regarding implementation of new tools
Implement Process Improvements
Update Document Templates
Implement and establish processes to improve enterprise system
Audit Change Requests to ensure adherence to established policies
Audit documents to ensure adherence to established policies
Update and maintain CM Tool
Provide status accounting
Provide Metrics
Utilize BMC Remedy Action Request System for trouble ticket tracking, assigning and maintenance
Provide Configuration Identification
Provide Configuration Control
Serve as secretary to CCB
Generate Agenda for CCB and conduct CCB for key officials – disposition CRs
Serve as secretary to the ERB
Generate Agenda for ERB and conduct ERB for team members
Train project personnel in new procedures
Maintain information system on intranet
Maintain Configuration Management Repository on Sharepoint Website – SQL backend interface
Serve as release/configuration manager
ITIL Project
Participated in Kaizen for process improvement using Ishikawa Diagrams
CM Tools:
Microsoft Access, SharePoint, SQL Plus, Remedy
Sr. Configuration Analyst
6/2003 - 6/2006 ROCKWELL COLLINS, Sterling, Virginia
Configuration Manager for three Projects – B-1 Bomber, T-45, and JSTARS, EA6-B
Write Configuration Management Plans for each project
Write Technical Documentation for projects
Write Deconfliction Plans for Projects
Provide Full SDLC CM Support
Write Build Procedures / ATPs
Perform Builds for each project – compile code for each project
Promote builds from development, to test and then to production environments
JSTARS Platform – JAVA Based utilized Ant Scripting and Maven
Perform Cold Starts on Linux Machines
Generate shell scripts and administer Unix machines
Perform Administrative tasks on Linux Servers
Install, Configure, and serve as the Administrator for Razor – Visible Systems Configuration Management Tool
Provide technical support for the central Razor Server throughout the company
Write batch programs to customize Razor Visible System tool to function according to different project specifications
Mentor other CM personnel Participate in Peer Reviews
Serve as secretariat for CCBs and provide agendas
Serve as liaison to government counterparts
Maintain baseline control
Provide release management – document releases with government required documentation
Work closely with developers to establish build and promotion process
Maintain baseline integrity with multiple worksites
Help facilitate and schedule FCA/PCA events
Conduct audits to ensure that the baselines are in compliance with ISO standards and other MIL Standards
Identify and track Configuration Items
Track Deviations and Waivers
Provide Training to customer once baseline has been delivered as well as in-house training to the CM staff on the CM tool
Provide Training to the Engineering Staff on the CM tool and process
Provide Presentations to the Customer as needed
Serve as release/configuration and build manager for all project baselines – CONUS and OCONUS
CM Tools:
Razor by Visible Systems, CVS, Subversion
Operating System:
Linux, Widows 2000, Windows XP, Visual C++
Education
American InterContinental University
Associates Business Administration March 31, 2020
Strayer College, Sterling, VA
Some College Coursework Completed
Pursued B.S. in Computer Information Systems from 1994 to 1996
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Some College Coursework Completed
Pursued B. S. in Engineering from 1987 -1989
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Some College Coursework Completed
Pursued Bachelor's Degree in Biology from 1982 -1986
Affiliations
5/1992 - Present Configuration Management Working Group
Member
Skills
Skill Name
CCC Harvest
Clearcase
ClearQuest
CCC Manager
CCC Pro
CVS
Microsoft Project
MicroSoft Suite - Including MS
PVCS
RAZOR
Visual Source Safe
Subversion
Languages
French (Conversational), Spanish (Conversational)
References
Upon Request